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Alien’s passport

You will always get an alien's passport if:

  • you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of subsidiary protection in Finland; or
  • you have a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection but do not have a valid travel document.

An alien’s passport is valid for a maximum of five years.

  • Expected processing time

    5 months

  • Paper application fee

    44 €

    New document to replace a lost one

    170 €

The Finnish Immigration Service can use discretion to grant an alien’s passport on other grounds as well

We can grant an alien’s passport, if you have a valid residence permit in Finland and one of the following applies to you:

  • You cannot obtain a passport from the authorities of your country of nationality.
  • You are stateless.
  • The embassy or consulate of your country of nationality in Finland is not able to grant you a passport.
  • You need to travel to your home country or to the embassy or consulate of your home country abroad to obtain a passport.
  • You have tried to obtain the passport of your country of nationality but have not received it. 
  • You are applying for a residence permit and meet the requirements for the permit but the passport of your country of nationality has expired during the time your asylum application was being processed in Finland. 
    • You cannot be expected to obtain the passport of your home country while your asylum application is still being processed

We consider each application for an alien’s passport individually. The validity of an alien’s passport is based on individual consideration.

  • If you have subsidiary protection status in Finland, you can be granted an alien’s passport for a period of five years.
  • If you have been granted a residence permit in Finland on some other grounds, your alien’s passport may be valid for a shorter period. The reason for a shorter validity period may be, for example, that you can get the passport of your country of nationality. You are granted an alien’s passport so that you can travel to get the passport of your country of nationality.

You cannot get an alien’s passport in the following cases

You cannot be granted a new alien’s passport in cases such as:

  • you did not apply for the passport of your country of nationality while your previous alien’s passport was valid and are not planning to apply for it now
    • You can apply for an alien’s passport again if you are going to obtain the passport of your country of nationality and the necessary documents from outside Finland. 
  • you do not have a valid residence permit.

If your alien’s passport is lost or damaged 

  • If your alien’s passport is lost or stolen in Finland, report it to the police (poliisi.fi). Apply for a new alien’s passport at the Finnish Immigration Service.
  • If your alien’s passport is lost, stolen or damaged when you are outside Finland, contact a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate).
    • A Finnish mission can grant you an alien’s passport that is valid for a maximum of one month so that you can return to Finland.
  • If your alien's passport is damaged, apply for a new one at the Finnish Immigration Service.

How to apply for an alien’s passport

The white front and back covers of an alien’s passport. The front cover portrays the Finnish coat of arms and the words 'Suomi Finland'. Below them is the word 'alien’s passport' written in multiple languages. The back cover bears an embossed logo consisting of the words ‘Suomi Finland 100’.

The personal data page of an alien’s passport issued by Finland (a specimen). On the left, there is a black-and-white passport photo of the passport holder.